Children’s Stories
What is Children’s Stories about?
Early in his literary career Oscar Wilde published two collections of children’s stories and fairy tales. This edition contains the stories from both The Happy Prince and Other Tales , published in 1888, and A House of Pomegranates , published in 1891. The two books present two slightly different sensibilities, and though stories like “The Happy Prince” and “The Selfish Giant” have grown into timeless children’s classics, the darker tales told in A House of Pomegranates remain less well known and were, as Wilde said, “intended neither for the British child nor the British public.” While Wilde is best known as a playwright and celebrated for his wit and aphorisms, his early writings contain the seeds of his biting criticism of late Victorian society. And this was true no more so than in these fairy stories which explore the ideals of friendship, love, kindness and charity; the stories both celebrate these attributes and show how they are too often twisted or ignored by the very societies that espouse them.
Main themes in Children’s Stories
Sacrifice and love
In Children’s Stories, sacrifice and love provides a lens for understanding the story's core message.
Wealth and poverty
The theme of wealth and poverty weaves through Children’s Stories, adding depth to its narrative.
Beauty and compassion
Beauty and compassion emerges as a defining element in Children’s Stories, shaping character development.
Selfishness and redemption
In Children’s Stories, selfishness and redemption provides a lens for understanding the story's core message.
Why Children’s Stories is still relevant today
Wilde's fairy tales reveal the compassionate heart beneath his witty surface. "The Happy Prince" and "The Selfish Giant" have become beloved classics, read in schools and adapted countless times. Their combination of beautiful prose and moral seriousness makes them unique in children's literature. The tales anticipate Wilde's later concerns with sacrifice, suffering, and redemption. Many readers find them the most personal of his works, showing the generous spirit that his wit often concealed.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are Wilde's fairy tales about?
Wilde's fairy tales explore themes of sacrifice, love, and compassion. Stories like 'The Happy Prince' and 'The Selfish Giant' teach moral lessons while showcasing Wilde's beautiful prose.
What is 'The Happy Prince' about?
A gilded statue befriends a swallow and gives away his jewels and gold leaf to help the poor, sacrificing his beauty out of love. Both statue and swallow die but are rewarded in heaven.
Are these really for children?
While Wilde wrote them for his sons, the tales are often sad, dealing with death and sacrifice. They work for children but carry emotional weight that resonates with adult readers.
What is 'The Selfish Giant' about?
A giant refuses to let children play in his garden, which remains frozen in perpetual winter until he opens his heart. The story became one of Wilde's most beloved works.
How do these compare to traditional fairy tales?
Wilde's fairy tales are more melancholy and morally complex than traditional stories. They often end in death rather than 'happily ever after,' emphasizing sacrifice and spiritual reward.